Hen&#39;s nest.



J. KIRKHA'M. HENS NEST.

APPLIOATION PI-LBD MAY 8. 1908.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908. I

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES KIRKHAM, OF WEST TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

HENS NEST.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES KIRKHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at est Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hens Nests, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel arrangement for suspending a hens nest within an inclosure wherein as the hen occupies the nest the opening through which she entered the inclosure will be automatically closed; and the object of the invention is to provide a hens nest wherein as the hen is occupying the nest she will not be disturbed by other hens attempting to share the nest with her.

I accomplish the object of my invention by means of the hens nest and its inclosure illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross section of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

In the drawings, 1 represents a rectangular box which forms the inclosure for the nest. This box may be constructed to be either tight, so as to exclude light, or with slatted sides as shown in the drawings, and is provided in its front wall with the opening or doorway 2. The nest comprises the open top receptacle 3, generally of rectangular form, normally held suspended by means of the wire or cord 4 which extends upward and partially around the periphery of a cam 6. The cam is mounted on the horizontally extending rock-shaft 7 which is supported near the top of the inclosure 1. The forward end of the shaft 7 extends to the exterior of the inclosure and above the doorway 2 and is provided with the swinging door 8. The receptacle 3 is held normally in a suspended position and the door 8 is normally removed from the doorway 2 by means of the counter-weight 12 suspended from the end of the arm 13 which is an integral part of the cam 6. When the hen enters the inclosure 1 and occupies the nest Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. May 8, 1908.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

Serial No. 431,658.

the added weight will cause the receptacle to be depressed. The downward pull of the receptacle 3 on the cord 1 will impart a slight rocking movement to the disk 6 and the rock-shaft 7, causing the counter-weight 12 to be elevated and the door 8 to be moved to close the doorway 2, so that other hens cannot gain access to the inclosure while the hen within is occupying the nest. hen the hen within vacates the nest the additional weight being removed will cause the receptacle 3 to be elevated and the door 8 to be removed from the doorway 2 by the action of the weight 12.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A hens nest of the above specified class including an inclosure provided with an inlet opening and consisting of a suspended receptacle for retaining the nest, a rockshaft mounted in the inclosure and adapted to form a hanger for the suspended receptacle, and a door mounted on and actuated by said rock-shaft and arranged to close the inlet to said inclosure when the receptacle is depressed.

2. A hens nest of the above specified class including an inclosure provided with an inlet opening and consisting of a suspended receptacle for retaining the nest, a rockshaft mounted in the inclosure and adapted to form a hanger for the suspended receptacle, a door mounted 011 and actuated by said rock-shaft and arranged to close the in let to said inclosure when the receptacle is depressed, and a counter-weight attached to and suspended from one side of the rockshaft and adapted to return the parts, when actuated, to normal position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Vest Terre Haute, Indiana, this, 25th day of March, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and eight.

JAMES KIRKHAH. [1,. s]

WVitnesses F. M. RATCLIFFE, THOMAS COLLINS. 

